According to a significant defence review, Australia will expedite attempts to purchase longer-range missiles to confront the growing threat from China.
The “missile age” is warned to end, and the nation can no longer be safeguarded by geographical isolation.
To implement the report’s immediate recommendations, government will spend A$19 billion ($12 billion, £10 billion).
According to 110-page assessment, Australia’s defence has undergone most significant renovation since World War Two.
The Defense Strategic Review (DSR) is released during rising regional unrest over China’s position on Taiwan, which it has repeatedly threatened through force.
In violation of international law, Chinese navy has also developed a significant presence in South China Sea as well as is claiming a portion of it as its territory.
Since end of World War II, China has undertaken largest and most ambitious military buildup. The paper claims that this buildup is taking place without transparency or assurances of China’s strategic intent to the Indo-Pacific area.
Anthony Albanese prime minister, said review’s proposals will make Australia “more self-reliant, more prepared, as well as more secure” rather than “waiting for the future to shape us.”
Defence Minister Richard Marles, suggests that Australia’s armed forces shift their emphasis from land-based armour to “longer-range strike capability, with munitions built in Australia.”
According to Mr. Marles, “we need to have a defense force that can engage in ‘impactful projection’.”
According to a 2022 think tank analysis, China assuming control of territories in the nearby region during a potential battle over Taiwan would be the “worst-case scenario” for Australia’s military.
According to Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) expert Dr. Malcolm Davis, Australia’s new defense strategy aims to keep “a major power adversary like China… as far away as possible”.
“What we’re attempting to do is dissuade China from resorting to the use of force to further its political goals, either in Taiwan or the South China Sea. Thus, the topic is deterrence.
However, as we saw with Ukraine, deterrence is not always effective, so you must be prepared to act. We’re making investments that will significantly increase our combat reach, he said.
The review, he continued, was a “step in the right direction,” but it was not a conclusive answer.
“Instead of [one] that attempts to accomplish everything, [we’re heading down the route of] a focused force, intended for impactful projection, that is better suited to the type of danger that we will be confronting in this decade and beyond. But I believe there is still work to be done. We must invest in deploying [forces] onto the field much more quickly and increase defense spending.
Additionally, Australia will move quickly to purchase the land-based High Mobility Artillery Rocket (HIMARS) system, which the Ukrainian army employed to great effect to halt Russian advance.
Numerous projects, such as those for new self-propelled weapons and army ammunition delivery vehicles, will be abandoned in order to pay for Australia’s revised objectives.
Keeping a “continuous shipbuilding capability in this country” is crucial, according to Mr. Marles, who added that the evaluation also made this point clear.
Purchasing long-range anti-ship missiles for fighter planes was also advised, but the new US B-21 Raider stealth bomber was deemed “not a suitable option” at the time.
In a contract worth $895 million, the US State Department last month authorized the sale of 220 cruise missiles to Australia.
Under the terms of the Aukus defense agreement reached by Australia, the UK, and the US, Australia will purchase Virginia-class submarines from the US. These submarines will be equipped with non-nuclear missiles.
